Stringed musical instrument.



No. 703,572. Patented July I, I902. K. GRIENAUER.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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THE NORRIS PEIERS co, worn-urns" wAsMN-mml, u. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL GRIENAUER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STRlNG ED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 703,572, dated July 1,1902. Application filed March 29,1902. Serial No. 100,520- (No model.)

To aZl whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL GRIENAUER, a citizen of Austria-Hungary,and aresident of New York city, county and State of New York,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a stringed musical instrument so constructedthat the resonating-chamber is placed under transverse tension inaddition to the longitudinal tension imparted by the strings. By thistransverse tension the quantity as well as the quality of the tone isgreatly improved.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of aVioloncello provided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a cross-section online 2 2, Fig. 1. Figs. 3 to 5 are details of the brace and nut, andFig. 6 a cross-section of a modification.

The letter a represents the belly, Z) the back, and c the sides, of theresonating-chamber of a stringed musical instrument, such as a violin,viola, Violoncello, or bass.

The strings d subject the belly a and back b to high longitudinaltension, but not to transverse tension. In order to also subject them totransverse tension, I fit into the reso- Dating-chamber a number oftransverse braces 6, extending in planes'at right angles to the strings.These braces are arranged, preferably, diagonally, as shown in Fig. 2,extending from one upper point to the transverselyopposite lower point.Along one edge of the resonating-chamber the usual bead f is slotted ormutilated for the accommodation of a nut g, which is of oblong shape andforms, in effeet, a part or continuation of the bead, Fig. 3. This nutengages the outwardly-extend ing threaded end ofth'e brace e, and byturning it the brace may be placed under any strain desired toimpartacorresponding transverse tension to the belly and back. Underneath thenut g'a reinforcing-plate h may be fitted. Along the other edge of theresonating-chamber the bead is also cutaway to accommodate acorrespondingly-shaped plate 2' for engaging the headed end of thebrace. By the construction described the nut g is exposed and accessiblefrom the outer side of the instrument, so that the tension may bereadily adjusted from the exterior of the resonating-chamber.

In Fig. 6 the diagonal braces c are replaced by parallel transversebraces j, extending from one side 0 to the opposite side 0. These sidesare provided with perforated reinforcing-strips 7a, through which thebraces pass and which prevent the braces from tearing through orcollapsin g the sides. In this modification the nuts for adjusting thetension of the braces are likewise mounted upon the exposed ends of thesame at the exterior of the resonating-chamber.

It will be seen that by my invention the belly and back are placed undertransverse tension in addition to the longitudinal tension caused by thestrings. In this'way the entire resonating-chamber is placed under highstrain in all directions, by reason of which the quality as well as thequantity of the tone is greatly improved.

What I claim is 1. A stringed musical instrument provided With aresonating-chamber, transversely-arranged threaded braces traversingsaid chamber, and adjusting-nuts on the outer side of the chamber thatengage said braces, substantially as specified.

A stringed musical instrument provided with a resonating-chamber, aslotted bead extending along one edge of said chamber, a pair oftransverse diagonal braces, and oblong nuts engaging said braces andfitted within the bead-slots, substantially as specified.

Signed by me at New York city, New York, this 28th day of March, 1902.

KARL GRIENAUER. lVitnesses:

FRANK v. BRIESEN, EDWARD RAY.

